Archduke

Archduke is the thirteenth rank in the Imperial aristocracy, and the final rank of the Optimates. It is the highest rank a Noble can achieve without serving on the venerable Privy Council with distinction.

Expectations
For all intents and purposes, an Archduke is the highest rank attainable for the vast majority of Imperial Nobles. There is no further service a member can give that will promote them beyond this awe-inspiring level of control without service as part of the Council. Many members choose not to serve as Councilors, as it is relatively thankless and requires much sacrifice, and Archduke is a comfortable plateau at which to finally rest from the great political scheming of their lessers.

Unlike a Grand Duke, who controls exactly the same amount of territory as a lesser Duke, the Archduke holds more. Any Duke or Grand Duke in the Empire is the vassal of an Archduke, whose territory is known as an Archduchy, or more commonly as a Sector.

A Sector is unimaginably large, consisting of no less than six thousand inhabited systems and any number of uninhabited systems that have yet to be colonized. Furthermore, an Archduke requires no Writ from the Privy Council to declare a Reclaiming. In fact, when a Reclaiming is requested by a Lord or other Noble, the request is put to the nearest Archduke. The only things an Archduke cannot do are call full-scale Crusades or single-handedly terminate and expunge another Noble. However, with the weight their word carries in dealings with the Crown, an Archduke can usually destroy a rival utterly with but a moment of private discussion at the Privy Council.